Ohio State University, one of the nation’s largest universities, and the Ohio state’s corrections department are investigating if whether buying food jointly and in bulk will save money. With budget cutbacks, the State is reviewing many avenues to cut costs. This unique concept to decrease spending has not been attempted in any other states leaving Ohio to blaze the way for others if the plan succeeds.
Ohio State and the prison system are in the early stages of drafting a proposal, so it's unknown which foods they could buy together. But both parties contend that a purchasing partnership wouldn't make the meals less tasty or snacks less savory.
Although the menus are quite different, the food used to prepare them may not be. Tacos, pasta and pizza are dished out in the cafeterias of prisons and the university alike, with some overlapping ingredients even though the recipes probably differ.
Students have expressed concerns that the quality of food may decrease as more canned and preserved items might make their way to the school’s cafeteria. Many students commented on how great the current food is and are leery of a change. The University explains that many items such as milk, bread, and eggs are all the same, they just cost different. This is the concept they are working with as they draft a partnership with the state’s corrections department.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction could save $2 million a year by jointly buying its food with Ohio State University and changing its menus. It is unclear the savings the university would experience.
This idea along with another to use inexpensive cafeteria and breakroom tables, were two of more than 1,000 suggestions made when the prison system asked its staff for ways to save money. This agreement helps cut costs because it would allow all the institutions to buy food as a unit instead of separate entities. That way, they could negotiate a better deal because they're buying bigger quantities for more people. Currently, the correction department pays another state agency to buy most of its food. But the department and some prisons buy some food directly.
Although the inmate population of 48,700 is thousands smaller than the student body, the food budget is higher because the audience is, well, captive. The more than 56,000 students at Ohio State's main Columbus campus can ditch university dining for fast food any time.
As a result of the partnership, the prisons will look at changing their menu to replace unpopular items with cheaper, more-favored entrees. The University does not plan to change any of its menus based on the new partnership.
